Larry Stone

Tastemaker

Sommelier

Napa

Larry Stone is a Master Sommelier and the only American to earn the title of French Master Sommelier from the Union de la Sommellerie Française. More than 20 years ago, Stone won Best International Sommelier in French Wines at the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa in Paris. After winning this title, he continued on as a restaurateur and sommelier, opening Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and then developing a renowned wine program at Charlie Trotter's (1989 to 1993). Wishing to be closer to vineyards, Stone moved to San Francisco to open Rubicon with restaurateur Drew Nieporent and chef Traci Des Jardins. Stone received the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Wine Service Award in 2000, and in 2005 he was named the general manager of Francis Ford Coppola's Rubicon Estate. In 2012, Stone joined Huneeus Vintners as the estates director of Napa Valley’s Quintessa and Chile’s Neyen. He's also the dean of wine studies at The International Culinary Center.

Favorite Cities

Favorite Hotels

Favorite Restaurants

Daniel, New York
Bar Boulud, New York
Corton, New York
Babbo, New York
Patina, Los Angeles
Nobu
Morimoto, Napa, California
Cyrus, Healdsburg, California
The French Laundry, Yountville, California
RN74, San Francisco
SPQR, San Francisco
A16, San Francisco
The Slanted Door, San Francisco
Quince, San Francisco
Salumi, Seattle
Canlis, Seattle

The Aman Group does an amazing job with their hotels, I was just at the one in Turks & Caicos and it was pretty spectacular. The service is amazing, but when you go in and you experience something, you feel the zen, you feel the calmness, you feel all the things they’re representing. The Grand Hyatt and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo — both amazing hotels, and so is Four Seasons Milan.

The Aman Group does an amazing job with their hotels, I was just at the one in Turks & Caicos and it was pretty spectacular. The service is amazing, but when you go in and you experience something, you feel the zen, you feel the calmness, you feel all the things they’re representing. The Grand Hyatt and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo — both amazing hotels, and so is Four Seasons Milan.